Alleged Bank Thief Phones In $22K Order

A New York man who tried to steal $22,000 from TD Banknorth on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield called ahead to make sure the bank had enough cash for him, police said Friday.

Police said Juan Bautista Delacruz, 24, of the Bronx, called the bank about 5:40 p.m. Thursday to make sure $22,000 in cash was available and stated he didn't want a bank check, police said.

When Delacruz arrived at the bank about 6:45 p.m., he presented a fraudulent New Jersey driver's license and bank account number that belonged to a TD Banknorth customer who lives in New Jersey and tried to withdraw $22,000 from the New Jersey man's account, police said. He said he needed the $22,000 for a wedding, police said.

Bank employees were suspicious right from the start, as Delacruz arrived at the bank by walking on Black Rock Turnpike, which indicated he didn't want the car he arrived in to be captured by surveillance cameras, police said. After Delacruz presented the fraudulent driver's license and bank account number, a bank employee called the home of the New Jersey man to ensure he was the one requesting the money, police said. The New Jersey man's wife answered the phone and said her husband wasn't trying to withdraw money and that the bank employee should call police, police said.

Delacruz apparently became nervous about how long the transaction was taking and ran from the bank, where he was spotted on Black Rock Turnpike by patrol officers. He was arrested without incident, police said.

Officers then located a car that had a New York license plate and that was parked behind 1838 Black Rock Turnpike, which is a short distance from TD Banknorth at 1715 Black Rock Turnpike, police said. Two men had left the car and were walking down Burroughs Road when officers stopped them and questioned them, police said. The potential involvement of those men in Delacruz's attempted theft remains under investigation, police said.

Delacruz was charged with criminal attempt at first-degree larceny, first-degree identity theft, criminal impersonation, second-degree forgery and interfering with an officer. He was held in lieu of $25,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on May 5, police said.